Smith will get a chance to play on the Sharks' fourth line on Thursday alongside Justin Bailey and Jack Studnicka. Smith has one goal and two assists in 25 games this season.

Vlasic will be the odd-man out on Thursday as Jan Rutta (illness) is set to return to the Sharks' lineup.

Rutta did not play on Tuesday due to an illness and was be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes. He has five points (0G / 5A) in 26 games while averaging 18:56 time-on-ice.

Rutta did not play on Tuesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes. He has five points (0G / 5A) in 26 games while averaging 18:56 time-on-ice.

Blackwood was the undisputed starter for the Sharks earlier this season but as the quality of his play has tapered off, he has found himself in an equal timeshare with Kaapo Kahkonen. Blackwood has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four games (1-2-0), posting an uncharacteristically low .868 SV%, considering he was sporting a .903 SV% in the 17 games leading up to that. The Sharks are +135 home underdogs on Thursday against an Arizona Coyotes team riding a three-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition 7-3.

Dellandrea centred the fourth line on Monday but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday as Radek Faksa will return to the lineup. Dellandrea has one point (1G / 0A) , three hits, and four penalty minutes in his last two games.

Rutta was a game-time decision on Tuesday due to an illness. Rutta has five points (0G / 5A) in 26 games while averaging 18:56 time-on-ice.

Akira Schmid started each of the last two games for the Devils, a back-to-back set, as Vanecek was unable to play due to an illness. That said, he was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate, indicating he will return to net against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vanecek has struggled with consistency this season but is amid his best two-game stretch (2-0-0), allowing only three goals on a combined 49 shots (.939 SV%). The Devils are coming off a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and are -159 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in eight straight contests (6-0-2).

Couture returned to Sharks' practice for the first time since early October as he is weeks away from returning from game action due to a lower-body injury. The 34-year-old was originally only expected to miss a few games to start the season but badly reaggrivated his injury and has missed the Sharks' first 31 games because of it. He is coming off a 67 point (27G/40A) season in 2022-23 and hasn't played less than 48 games in a since since 2009-10.

Rutta will be a game-time decision on Tuesday due to an illness, allowing Marc-Edouard Vlasic to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for four games. Rutta has five points (0G / 5A) in 26 games while averaging 18:56 time-on-ice.

Vlasic has not played since December 7th, sitting out the last four games, but will return to the lineup against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Calen Addison (undisclosed) will come out of the lineup.

Kostin suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and did not return after playing 6:30 time-on-ice. Kostin has battled several injuries lately, playing only two of the last six games for the Red Wings. Austin Czarnik has been recalled from the Grand Rapid Griffins (AHL) in the interim while Kostin recovers week-to-week.

Akira Schmid started each of the last two games for the Devils, a back-to-back set, as Vanecek was unable to play due to an illness. That said, he was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate, indicating he will likely return to net against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vanecek has struggled with consistency this season but is amid his best two-game stretch (2-0-0), allowing only three goals on a combined 49 shots (.939 SV%). The Devils are coming off a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks and are -159 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in eight straight contests (6-0-2).

Lindblom has been out due to injury since November 10th and was reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) Monday now that he is healthy. The 27-year-old was only able to appear in one game for the Sharks prior to his injury but will return to the minor, where he had two points (1G/1A) in eight games earlier in the season.

Sturm suffered a mid-body injury vs. the Jets on Thursday and is considered week-to-week. The Sharks said that Sturm will be re-evaluated in one week, but for now, he'll be replaced by Jack Studnicka, who was acquired from the Canucks this week.

Kostin was expected to re-enter the Red Wings lineup after Dylan Larkin was injured last Saturday but instead instead joined Larkin on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury but has been activated a week later. After missing four straight games, Kostin will likely return to the lineup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored in his last game but has only one point (1G / 0A) in his last nine contests.